Full body and floating duck decoy with novel stake system

ABSTRACT

A duck decoy includes a keel-free decoy body and a support stake carried by the decoy body. The support stake includes two sections held together by a retainer in the form of an elastic cord. The support stake is selectively configurable into a swimming configuration or a standing configuration so that the duck decoy may be deployed floating on the water, standing in shallow water or standing on dry ground.

This application claims priority to U.S. provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/106,605, filed on Oct. 28, 2020, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This document relates generally to the field of waterfowl hunting and, more particularly, to a new and improved full body and floating decoy with a novel stake system.

BACKGROUND

Currently duck hunters use several types of decoys to attract ducks into the desired hunting area. These include (a) floating duck decoys in swimming and feeding positions that move in the wind and bob on the water to provide life-like motion and (b) dry field decoys that sit on stakes that are pushed into the ground or form a stand base on top of the ground.

This document relates to a new and improved all-purpose duck decoy having a full body and a configurable stake allowing the duck decoy to be selectively deployed as (a) a floating decoy, (b) a staked decoy in shallow water or (c) a staked dry decoy on land depending upon the particular desires of the user. For the first time, one duck decoy meets all of the possible needs of the hunter as dictated by different hunting spots and the unique environmental conditions of those spots. The added versatility of use and display characteristic of the new and improved duck decoy is a significant benefit to the hunter and represents an advancement in the duck decoy art.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the purposes and benefits described herein, a new and improved duck decoy is provided. That duck decoy comprises a decoy body and a support stake carried by the decoy body. The support stake is selectively configurable into a swimming configuration or a standing configuration so that the duck decoy may be deployed floating on the water, standing in shallow water or standing on dry land.

In one or more of the many possible embodiments of the duck decoy, the support stake includes two sections. The first section may be engaged in a first receiver of the decoy body so that the stake is carried by the decoy body in any of its various deployment configurations. In one or more embodiments, the decoy body also carries a second receiver adapted to receive and hold the second section of the support stake when the support stake is in the swimming configuration. More particularly, the first receiver may be provided within the decoy body while the second receiver may extends outside or project from the decoy body.

The duck decoy may include a connector adapted to secure the first section to the second section when the support stake is in the standing configuration. That connector may include (a) a male portion carried on one of the first section and the second section and (b) a cooperating female portion carried on the other of the first section and the second section. The male portion plugs into the female portion in order to complete the connection.

The connector may also include a retainer adapted to hold the first and second sections of the support stake together when in either the swimming configuration or the standing configuration. The retainer may comprise an elastic cord having a first end connected to the male portion and a second end connected to the female portion.

In one or more of the many possible embodiments of the duck decoy, the decoy body includes a front, a rear, opposed sides and a flat bottom. The front, the rear and the opposed sides may curve inward adjacent the flat bottom. That flat bottom may be keel-free.

A bracket may be provided on the flat bottom and an anchor system may be attached to that bracket. That anchor system may include a pendulum weight, a connector adapted to connect the pendulum weight to the duck decoy, an anchor weight and a decoy cord connected between the pendulum weight and the anchor weight. Further, a swivel may be connected between the pendulum weight and the decoy cord to prevent the decoy cord from twisting and knotting as the duck decoy moves and turns on the water in response to changing wind conditions.

In accordance with yet another aspect, a duck decoy comprises a keel-free decoy body and a support stake carried by the decoy body. The support stake may be selectively configurable into a swimming configuration or a standing configuration. That decoy body may be a full decoy body having a front, a rear, opposed sides and a flat bottom. The front, the rear and the opposed sides may curve inward adjacent the flat bottom. The inwardly curved surfaces of the front, sides and rear of the decoy body are apparent above the water line when the duck decoy is deployed to float on the water thereby giving the decoy a more life-like shape and quality.

The duck decoy may also include an anchor system having a pendulum weight, a connector adapted to connect the pendulum weight to the duck decoy, an anchor weight, a decoy cord connected between the pendulum weight and the anchor weight and a swivel connected between the pendulum weight and the decoy cord. In this way, the floating duck decoy may be constrained to a selected area of the pond or other body of water.

In the following description, there are shown and described several preferred embodiments of the duck decoy. As it should be realized, the duck decoy is capable of other, different embodiments and its several details are capable of modification in various, obvious aspects all without departing from the duck decoy as set forth and described in the following claims. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions should be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

The accompanying drawing figures incorporated herein and forming a part of the patent specification, illustrate several aspects of the duck decoy and together with the description serve to explain certain principles thereof.

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the duck decoy including the decoy body and the support stake with the support stake in the standing configuration and the duck decoy deployed in a standing position on dry land.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the duck decoy of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the duck decoy of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the duck decoy with the support stake folded into the swimming configuration and the duck decoy deployed floating on the water.

FIG. 5A is a detailed view of the support stake in the standing configuration.

FIG. 5B is a detailed view of the support stake as it transitions between standing and swimming configurations.

FIG. 5C is a detailed view of the support stake in the swimming configuration.

FIG. 6 illustrates the duck decoy deployed on the water and fully rigged with the anchor system for constraining the decoy in a selected area of the water.

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the anchor system and self-righting, keel-free duck decoy, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference is now made to FIGS. 1 and 2 which illustrate the new and improved duck decoy 10 with the support stake 32 in the standing configuration on dry ground G. The duck decoy 10 includes a decoy body 12 made from plastic or other appropriate material. The decoy body 12 includes a front 14, opposed sides 16, 18, a rear 20 and a flat bottom 22. The front 14, the opposed sides 16, 18 and the rear 20 all curve inward adjacent the bottom 22 to provide the duck decoy 10 with a more lifelike profile when floating on the water, standing in shallow water or standing on dry land.

In the illustrated embodiment, the duck decoy 12 is keel-free: that is, there is no weighted keel on the flat bottom 22. See FIGS. 1 and 3. A first receiver 24, a second receiver 26 and a bracket 28 are all provided at the bottom 22 of the decoy body 12. The first receiver 24 is an aperture that extends upward into the decoy body 12. The second receiver 26 is a hook projecting downward and away from the bottom 22 of the decoy body 12. The bracket 28 may be used to attached the anchor system 30 which is illustrated in FIG. 6 and will be described in greater detail below.

A support stake 32 is carried by the decoy body 12. The support stake 32 is best illustrated in FIGS. 5A-5C. The support stake 32 includes two sections 34, 36. The first section 34 is inserted into and held in the first receiver 24 so that the stake is carried by the decoy body 12 (see also FIG. 1).

A connector 38, carried on the two sections 34,36, is adapted to releasably secure the first section 34 to the second section 36. As illustrated in FIGS. 5A-5C, the connector 38 includes a male portion 40 carried on one of the first section 34 and the second section 36 and a cooperating female portion 42 carried on the other of the first section and the second section. In the illustrated embodiment, the male portion 40 is on the first section 34 and the female portion 42 is on the second section 36. The connector 38 also includes a retainer 44, in the form of an elastic cord, that has a first end 46 secured to an interior surface of the male portion 40 and a second end 48 that is secured to an interior surface of the female portion 42.

When the support stake 32 is in the standing configuration, the two sections 34 and 36 are connected together: that is, the male portion 40 is plugged into and received in the female portion 42 to hold the stake sections together in alignment (see FIG. 5A). In this configuration, the retainer/elastic cord 44 simply retracts fully inside the connector 38 and the two sections 34, 36 extend along a single longitudinal axis. The connector 38 provides the necessary structural support and rigidity to allow the support stake 32 to be pushed into the ground without the two sections 34, 36 separating. Thus, it is easy to position the duck decoy 10 in a standing position on the dry ground G as illustrated in FIG. 1 or in shallow water (not shown).

If one later wishes to deploy the duck decoy 10 floating on the water, the stake 32 is pulled from the ground G and the stake 32 is then pulled apart at the connector 38: that is, the two sections 34, 36 are disconnected. FIG. 5B illustrates how the male and female portions 40, 42 of the connector 38 pull apart and how the retainer/elastic cord 44 stretches to allow one to fold or displace the second section 36 with respect to the first section 34.

As best shown in FIGS. 4, 5C and 6, when the stake 32 is in the swimming configuration, the second section 36 of the stake 32 is manipulated, displaced or folded up toward the bottom 22 of the decoy body 12 and then dropped into the hook portion of the second receiver 26. When the second section 36 of the stake 32 is released, the resilient memory of the retainer/elastic cord 44 tends to hold the second section 36 in the swimming configuration in the second receiver 26. The duck decoy 10 may then be deployed to float on the water W as shown in FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 6, the duck decoy 10 may be fully rigged with an anchor system 30 before being deployed on the water W. That anchor system 30 includes a pendulum weight 60, a connector 62 adapted to connect the pendulum weight to the decoy body 12, an anchor weight 64, a decoy cord 66 connected between the pendulum weight and the anchor weight and a swivel 68 connected between the pendulum weight and the decoy cord.

As more fully explained in copending U.S. patent application serial no. 2364S/001US, also filed on Oct. 28, 2021, (the full disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference), the pendulum weight 60 is connected to the bracket 28 at the bottom 22 of the decoy body and swings in an arc across the decoy body thereby providing a self-righting action to the decoy 10 as it floats on the water. In the absence of a weighted keel, it should be appreciated that drag is reduced and the duck decoy 10 moves more quickly and freely on the water W in response to changing wind conditions. This provides a more life-like appearance better suited to attract ducks to the area.

The anchor weight 64 rests on the bottom B of the body of water W to hold the duck decoy 10 in the area encompassed by the length of the decoy cord 66. The swivel 68, connected between the pendulum weight 60 and the decoy cord 66 ensures that the decoy cord is not twisted and knotted as a result of the turning movement of the duck decoy 12 in response to changes in wind direction.

Each of the following terms: “includes”, “including”, “has”, “having”, “comprises”, and “comprising”, and, their linguistic/grammatical variants, derivatives, or/and conjugates, as used herein, means “including, but not limited to”, and is to be taken as specifying the stated component(s), feature(s), characteristic(s), parameter(s), integer(s), or step(s), and does not preclude addition of one or more additional component(s), feature(s), characteristic(s), parameter(s), integer(s), step(s), or groups thereof.

Terms of approximation, such as the terms about, substantially, approximately, etc., as used herein, refers to ±10% of the stated numerical value. Use of the terms concentric, parallel or perpendicular are meant to mean approximately meeting this condition, unless otherwise specified.

It is to be fully understood that certain aspects, characteristics, and features, of the duck decoy, which are, for clarity, illustratively described and presented in the context or format of a plurality of separate embodiments, may also be illustratively described and presented in any suitable combination or sub-combination in the context or format of a single embodiment. Conversely, various aspects, characteristics, and features, of the duck decoy which are illustratively described and presented in combination or sub-combination in the context or format of a single embodiment may also be illustratively described and presented in the context or format of a plurality of separate embodiments.

Although the duck decoy of this disclosure has been illustratively described and presented by way of specific exemplary embodiments, and examples thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, or/and variations, thereof, will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended that all such alternatives, modifications, or/and variations, fall within the spirit of, and are encompassed by, the broad scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed:
 1. A duck decoy, comprising: a decoy body; and a support stake carried by the decoy body, the support stake being selectively configurable into a swimming configuration or a standing configuration.
 2. The duck decoy of claim 1, wherein the support stake includes a first section and a second section.
 3. The duck decoy of claim 2, wherein the first section is engage in a first receiver of the duck body.
 4. The duck decoy of claim 3, further including a second receiver carried on the duck body, the second receiver receiving and holding the second section of the support stake when the support stake is in the swimming configuration.
 5. The duck decoy of claim 4, wherein the first receiver is within the decoy body.
 6. The duck decoy of claim 5, wherein the second receiver extends outside the decoy body.
 7. The duck decoy of claim 6, further including a connector adapted to secure the first section to the second section when the support stake is in the standing configuration.
 8. The duck decoy of claim 7, wherein the connector includes (a) a male portion carried on one of the first section and the second section and (b) a cooperating female portion carried on the other of the first section and the second section.
 9. The duck decoy of claim 8, wherein the connector also includes a retainer adapted to hold the first and second sections of the support stake together when in either the swimming configuration or the standing configuration.
 10. The duck decoy of claim 9, wherein the retainer is an elastic cord having a first end connected to the male portion and a second end connected to the female portion.
 11. The duck decoy of claim 10, wherein the decoy body includes a front, a rear, opposed sides and a flat bottom and the front, the rear and the opposed sides curve inward adjacent the flat bottom.
 12. The duck decoy of claim 11, wherein the flat bottom is keel-free.
 13. The duck decoy of claim 12, further including a bracket carried on the flat bottom and an anchor system connected to the bracket.
 14. The duck decoy of claim 13, wherein that anchor system includes a pendulum weight, a connector adapted to connect the pendulum weight to the duck decoy, an anchor weight and a decoy cord connected between the pendulum weight and the anchor weight.
 15. The duck decoy of claim 14, further including a swivel connected between the pendulum weight and the decoy cord.
 16. The duck decoy of claim 2, further including a connector adapted to secure the first section to the second section when the support stake is in the standing configuration.
 17. The duck decoy of claim 16, wherein the connector includes (a) a male portion carried on one of the first section and the second section, (b) a cooperating female portion carried on the other of the first section and the second section and (c) a retainer adapted to hold the first and second sections of the support stake together when in either the swimming configuration or the standing configuration.
 18. A duck decoy, comprising: a keel-free decoy body; and a support stake carried by the decoy body, the support stake being selectively configurable into a swimming configuration or a standing configuration.
 19. The duck decoy of claim 18, wherein the decoy body includes a front, a rear, opposed sides and a flat bottom and the front, the rear and the opposed sides curve inward adjacent the flat bottom.
 20. The duck decoy of claim 19, further including an anchor system having a pendulum weight, a connector adapted to connect the pendulum weight to the duck decoy, an anchor weight, a decoy cord connected between the pendulum weight and the anchor weight and a swivel connected between the pendulum weight and the decoy cord. 